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Resource control on-going, say
South-South govs
SOPURUCHI ONWUKA
GOVERNORS of
oil producing states in the South-South geo-political zone yesterday restated
their resolve to press ahead with the struggle for resource control until they
gain absolute domination of oil industry operation in the area.
Governor James Ibori of Delta State said
in Lagos yesterday that the struggle for resource control would not be allowed
to rest even if he loses his governorship position on account of his
involvement.
His Akwa Ibom State counterpart Victor
Attah said the war for resource control would continue until the Niger Deltans
gain control of the whole resources onshore and in the deep and shallow offshore
territories contiguous to the littoral states.
The governors disclosed these at the
official presentation of a book on Governor Attah’s press interviews, published
reports and papers on the subject matters, compiled by Mr. Samuel Ajayi.
The event which held at the Muson Centre,
Onikan, Lagos pooled a forum of political leaders and industry stakeholders
where the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Mr. Adams Oshiomhole
also declared the support of Labour for any legitimate struggle against
oppression.
Gov. Ibori, who represented the
South-South governors at the event, said the Niger Deltans had suffered
political, economic and security deprivations on account of the struggle and
vowed that the issue would not end until the target goals were achieved even
after the tenures of the present governors.
"The struggle for resource control wont
rest even if I lose my seat as the governor. I was not born a governor, but I
believe its the duty of the governors to champion the cause of their peoples,"
Ibori said.
The governor made it clear that they would
not abandon the Niger Deltans in abject poverty arrising from environmental
degradation by oil multinationals operating in the region.
"This struggle will be pursued to logical
conclusion and I join the prayer that God will continue to give us the patience
to continue non violently," he said, adding that "democracy and freedom go hand
in hand."
Also speaking, the Deputy Governor of
Lagos State, Mr. Femi Pedro, who stood in for Governor Bola Tinubu stated the
support of state government for the struggle, saying that resource control was
inherent in true federalism for which, he said, the state government was
agitating.
Chief launcher of the book and former
Minister of Science and Technology, Chief Ebitimi Banigo, said on the occasion
that the impact of oil exploitation on the people of Niger Delta must be
recognised, appreciated and adequately compensated.
Book reviewer, Prof. Itse Sagay said
agitations for resource control derive from the threat to survival of the people
who, he said are denied social amenities and infrastructure by government at
federal level.
He noted that it is the right of the
owners of resources to participate actively in harnessing accrued revenues for
mitigation of the impact of the consequences.
The host, Gov. Victor Attah expressed
satisfaction at the level of support enjoyed so far by the struggle for resource
control, saying the struggle was not yet over until full control over oil
resources was gained and revenue allocation formula reverted to pre-oil 50 per
cent derivation principle.
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